Conditioner for pulverulent material



1962 J. T. PARIS] 3,048,903

CONDITIONER FOR PULVERULENT MATERIAL Filed July 1 1957 M If 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

aarrzegs Aug. 14, 1962 J. T. PARlSl CONDITIONER FOR PULVERULENT MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1957 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,048,903 CONDITIUNER FOR PULVERULENT MATEREAL Jules T. Parisi, La Grange Park, lill., assignor to Pei-:ay

Machine & Engineering (30., Inc, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Indy 1, 1957, Ser. No. 668,965 4 Claims. (Cl. 22-89) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for conditioning pulverulent or granular material during transportation of the material through the apparatus on a conveyor system, such as in modern foundry practice.

A primary object of the invention is to provide improved conditioning apparatus of the character described which is specially suitable for successfully treating unusually hard, coarse and abrasive materials, for instance, a low grade iron ore such as taconite, in a continuous operative process.

In practice, conditioning apparatus of this invention is stationed along a conveyor belt system in cooperation with other conditioning stages, this general arrangement of successive conditioning stages being described and illustrated in my US. Patent No. 2,610,373 issued September 16, 1952 for the invention entitled Mixer-Muller. As shown in said patent, such conditioning stages may each comprise an agitator or cutter stage 16 and a muller stage Zll, with the muller stage positioned closely behind the cutter stage considered in the direction of travel of the conveyor. The invention of said patent was concerned with conditioning apparatus for treatment of molding sands and the like, and it will be noted that the muller stage was not enclosed. Where from the nature of the material being treated or for any other reason, it became necessary to enclose the muller stage, as by side panels or walls, so that material would not be scattered off the conveyor, previous practices in installing such enclosure walls made it extremely diflicult to service the muller, especially in the case of replacement of parts.

The problems encountered in servicing and repair of such previously enclosed muller stages were considerably more complicated when the granular material being treated was unusually hard, coarse and/or tacky, such as a pre-treated low grade iron ore. Such material contributed to more frequent servicing and repair, especially of the muller roller or drum. Previous enclosures did not permit ready access to the drum and supporting shaft therefor so that in the case of replacement, it was difiicult, if not impossible, to remove the drum and shaft as a unit without considerable dismantling of the muller stage. It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide conditioning apparatus for granular material comprising an enclosed muller stage in which the enclosure structure has means permitting the muller drum and supporting shaft to be removed from the enclosure without dismantling of the muller stage.

Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosed muller stage of the character described in which the enclosure structure for the muller includes a pair of side panels or plates each having a transverse slot therein opening to the upper edge of the panel and a closed end forming a seat for an end of the supporting shaft for the muller adjacent the bearing support therefor, the muller and shaft capable of being removed from the enclosure as a unit through said slots.

To enclose the muller stage properly, means for preventing scattering of the granular material upwardly from between the lateral enclosure members immediately behind the agitator stage must be provided. Heretofore, metal bafile members had been used prevalently which were inflexible or substantially so with entirely unsatisfactory results. Where such granular materials comprised new or used molding sands, for instance, they contained additional binding and peeling agents and moisture which rendered the material tacky and very adhesive. Upon being fluffed and tossed in the agitator stage, the material adhered to the baflle member necessitating frequent removal of the adhered material and servicing of the baffle member. In addition, such inflexible baffle members would be likely to interfere with vertical adjustability of the muller roller with respect to the conveyor reach as shown in said patent.

Consequently, it is a further object of the invention to provide an enclosure for a muller stage which includes a novel, flexible rubber baffle installation at the upper end of the enclosure which substantially eliminates the problems mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel doctor means for a muller stage of the character described adapting the muller roll for more efficient and longer use in connection with unusually hard and coarse granular material.

There are additional objects of the invention not specifically mentioned which contribute to a more efiicient and desirable muller conditioner, however, it is contemplated that as the description of the invention ensues, these objects will also become more fully apparent. The detailed description and accompanying drawing of the invention are intended to enable the skilled artisan to understand and practice the same, and hence, minor variations may occur to the skilled artisan without departing from the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a conveyor line having conditioner stages stationed therealong. the conditioning apparatus embodying the invention being shown installed in conjunction with such stages.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the conveyor line of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the enclosure side walls of the conditioning apparatus embodying the invention with the muller roll installed between said side walls in the slots thereof.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale of the conditioning apparatus of the invention in operative position in the conveyor line.

Referring now to the drawings, represented in FIG. 1 is a section 10 of a conveyor system which may employ a standard endless belt of which the upper reach 12 is utilized to transport granular or pulverulent material to the various conditioning stages stationed along the belt. Such a system might be employed in a foundry where the left hand end of the conveyor ordinarily may be located to receive the granular material thereon from a supply hopper (not shown) to be carried thereafter to the right, as viewed in the figure. The granular material may be ordinary new or used molding sands, .or a special material to be used which is substantially harder and coarser than such molding sands. Identified by the reference characters 14 and \15 are agitator or cutter stages installed to receive the moving reach 12 therethrough. The specific construction of the stages 14 and 15 is immaterial to this invention and hence, reference to said US. Patent 2,610,373 will suflice to instruct in a suitable construction therefor.

Additional conventional details of the structure of the conveyor system 10 include the elongate supporting beams 16, the support rollers 18 for the reach 12 and the boxlike upright frames 26 in which the cutter or agitator stages are installed. Additional idler rollers may be provided supported between the angle iron frame members 22 rigidly secured between the box-like, upright frames of successive stages 14 and 15. As granular material approaches the stage 14, it may be intercepted by the skirt device 24 which funnels the material inwardly from the lateral edges of the reach 12. A leveling gate 26 may be provided inside of device 24 to flatten the crown of the sand piled on the reach. In the cutter stage 14, the sand is aerated and fluffed by blades of the cutter and emerges thereafter to be conditioned by the apparatus embodying the invention which has been desig' nated generally 30. The conditioning apparatus is stationed immediately behind the stage 14 and spaced ahead of the stage .15. In the rear end of stage 15, there may be provided other components shown in broken outline, such as rubber gate members 27 and 28 and rubber batlle 29.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the apparatus 36) includes a muller roll 32 in the form of a closed, hollow drum supported on a shaft 34, the opposite ends of which shaft protrude outwardly of the end walls of the drum. The roll 32 and supporting shaft as a unit are carried in an upright frame 35 of box-like formation usually formed of structural irons, the frame being rigidly secured at the bottom end thereof on a pair of rocker arms 36 forming part of the frame. Said rocker arms 36 are arranged intermediate the upright frames 20 for the cutter stages. One end of each arm 36 is anchored as at 33 to an upright structural member of the stage 15, the opposite free end of the rocker :arm being provided with a cap screw 39 threaded therethrough to engage upon a cooperating ledge or stop 40 fixed on an adjacent upright member of stage 14. Thus, the distance above the reach 12 at which the muller roll 32 may be positioned is variable in accordance with axial movement of the screw 39 relative said stop 40, and likewise, the movement of the rocker arms is thereby limited.

Each rocker arm 36 comprises a length of angle iron on which is rigidly secured, as by welding, a bracket 41 providing a base or ledge 42 substantially parallel to the arm 36. Removably secured on a said ledge 42, as by threaded fasteners (not shown), is a suitable bearing, such as a pillow block 43, in which each end of the shaft 34 is journalled. Each bracket 41 is formed of thickgauge sheet metal and is arranged opening upwardly so that the bearing block 43 is free to be removed from the bracket when such fasteners are loosened.

Muller 32 is mounted to be driven from a suitable source of electrical power such as the conventional motor 44 supported on frame 35. Through a suitable gear reduction system for attaining proper angular velocity of the muller 32, motor 44 drives a sprocket wheel 45 meshed with sprocket chain 46, said chain being connected to drive the wheel 47 fixed on the muller shaft 34. Means for maintaining the sprocket chain tight may be provided in any conventional manner. As explained in said patent, the motor 44 has been mounted to add the weight thereof 'to the weight of the frame 35 whereby to additionally weight the muller drum to achieve advantageous results.

The invention enables the muller 32 to be enclosed by side walls or plates of sheet metal while still permitting the muller roller and supporting shaft 34 to be removed from the enclosure as a unit. I provide a pair of said panels 48, one on each side of the muller which extend between the adjacent stages 14 and 15 to provide lateral closure members for the muller stage. Walls 48 each have a transversely extending slot 49 therein opening at one end thereof to the top edge of the wall. The slot 49 extends downwardly from the top edge of the wall in a slight arc toward the front cutter stage 14 to terminate in a seat 50 spaced above the bottom edge of the wall and substantially horizontally aligned with the bearing seat provided by a pillow block 43. The muller drum is supported between said walls 48 with the protruding ends of the supporting shaft 34 extending outwardly through the slots and engaged upon the seats 49 and blocks 43. Thus, to remove the muller drum and shaft as a unit, it is necessary only to disengage the pillow blocks from the supporting ledges 42 and lift same out as a unit through the open ends of said slots. Of course, the drive chain will have to be disengaged first, but this is very simply accomplished. It will thus become possible to repair and service the muller drum and shaft and bearings outside of the enclosure therefor which is much more eificient, especially where parts have frozen together.

The height of the plates 48 is such that the top edges thereof are considerably elevated above the muller 32, and hence, provide more effective protection against scattering of granular material out of the muller stage. Each side plate 48 is effectively divided into two panel sections 51 and 52, the section 51 being located between the forward stage 14 and the muller frame. The top edges 53 of said section 51 are downwardly and rearwardly canted from the top end of the stage 14 to connect with an edge of said slot. Supported on edges 53 of said walls is a flexible rubber baffle member 55 supported and secured by means of the metal strips 56 secured by threaded fasteners to exterior surfaces of said walls. The member 55 accordingly closes oif the upper end of the muller stage between the muller frame and the stage 14 and is effective to prevent scattering of material out through this portion of the muller stage. As seen in FIG. 4, member 55 also is secured to the cross-brace 57 of the stage 14 by fastener strip 58. When removing the drum 32, it is possible to back same out of the muller stage between stage 15 and the battle member 55 because of the flexibility of said member 55. The rubber baffle 55 contributes to other important advantages. Same is very economical and readily replaced, if necessary, because of the removable installation thereof. The flexible nature of the baflle deters against accumulation of excessive amounts of granular material tossed by the preceding stage and the muller wheel, as well. As material strikes the bafile, it is enabled to fiex or buckle in the plane thereof to throw off material adhering thereto. It will be further apparent that because of the flexibility of the baffle, there will be little if any interference with the adjustability of the height of the muller wheel above the conveyor reach.

To further adapt the stage 30 for use with unusually hard materials, I provide a scraper device 60 supported on the muller frame 35. As seen in FIG. 3, said scraper includes a pair of support plates, one of which is visible at 61, secured spaced apart and parallel to the top brace 62 of frame 35, as by welding. The plates 61 are secured on the side of the frame facing the stage 15 and depend toward the muller 32. At the lower ends of the plates is attached a doctor or scraper blade 63 arranged with an edge thereof slightly spaced from the circumference of the muller wheel. Thus, as the wheel 32 rotates, material adhered thereon is scraped therefrom by the blade 63. In the case of unusually hard and coarse granular material, the blade 63 is formed of a suitable carbide to resist undue wear and provision may be made for mounting said blade on the depending plates 61 in a removable installation.

Positioning the doctor 63 so that same is spaced above the muller shaft 34 has contributed to long life for the doctor. In addition, access to the doctor is more convenient since it is substantially unobstructed by other parts of the stage. As seen in said patent, the scraper or doctor had heretofore been substantially horizontally aligned with the muller wheel and located deep in the muller stage. It will be apparent such installation was not convenient for servicing the doctor.

It will be noted that the plates 61 are relatively Wide and together with the blade 63 function somewhat like bafile members also to deter scattering of material out of the stage 30 to the rear of the muller wheel.

It is believed the invention has been described in sufficient detail to enable same to be understood and practiced by persons skilled in the art to which same appertains. The principles of the invention have been embodied in the claims hereto appended which are desired to be broadly construed commensurate with the contribution to the arts and sciences made by the invention.

I claim:

1. In a system which has a plurality of structures intermittently spaced apart along a conveyor reach to condition granular foundry material carried through the structures on the conveyor reach; a substantially enclosed muller device for installation between a pair of adjacent structures to operate in consort therewith, said device including a muller drum having shaft ends protruding outwardly of the end walls thereof, a mounting bracket and bearing block removably secured on the bracket for journalling each of the shaft ends, rocker members mounting said brackets between said pair of structures for limited pivotal movement vertically relative to the conveyor reach, a pair of plate members supported vertically between said pair of structures with the muller drum between the plate members, each plate member having an elongate arcuate slot aligned one relative to the other, each slot opening at one end thereof to the upper edge of a plate member and having a closed end adjacent the bottom edge of the plate member to provide a bearing seat for a shaft end, said shaft ends extending through the slots for journalling thereof on the bearing blocks exterior of the plate members, the open end of each slot being spaced from each of said pair of adjacent structures, the upper edge of each plate member having a portion thereof slanted upwardly from the open end of a slot to one of said adjacent structures, a flexible baffle member secured upon said slanted edges to close off the upper end of the muller device between said portions, said shaft and drum being removable as a unit through the remaining open portion of the upper end of the device in a movement backing said shaft ends out through said open ends of the slots between the baffle member and the second of said adjacent structures.

2. In a system described in claim 1 in which at least a portion of said baffle adjacent said slots is readily capable of being disconnected from said slanted edges to facilitate said removal.

3. In a system as described in claim 2 in which said open ends of the slots are in closer proximity to the second than the first of said pair of adjacent structures.

4. In a system which has apparatus intermittently spaced along a conveyor to condition granular material carried through the apparatus on the reach of the conveyor; a substantially enclosed muller device comprising, a muller drum having a supporting shaft the ends of which protrude outwardly of the end walls of the drum, bearing blocks secured on said shaft ends, a mounting bracket for each block, each block being removably secured to a said mounting bracket, rocker arm means mounting said brackets to enable limited pivotal movement of the drum in a plane transverse to the plane of the conveyor reach, said rocker arm means capable of installation between a pair of adjacent apparatuses, a pair of plate members supported vertically between said pair of apparatuses with the muller drum therebetween, each plate member having an elongate slot intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof with said slot having a closed end spaced above said lower edge and opening to the upper edge of the plate member, said closed ends being aligned one with the other and with the bearing means, said shaft ends protruding laterally through slots in position to be supported on said closed ends thereof, said ends of each slot being offset one relative the other along the plane of the plate member and in the same direction, a flexible baffie member removably secured to portions of said upper edges of the plate members on one side of said open ends of the slots and to one of said pair of apparatuses in position to close off the upper end of the muller device between said slots and said one of said pair of apparatuses, said shaft and drum being removable as a unit with the shaft ends passing through the slots and the drum passing between the baffle member and the second of said pair of apparatuses.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,743,911 Borton Jan. 14, 1930 2,610,373 Parisi Sept. 16, 1952 2,658,603 Fernald Nov. 10, 1953 2,778,076 Bell Jan. 22, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 266,254 Great Britain Feb. 24, 1927 336,482 Great Britain Oct. 16, 1930 649,452 Great Britain J an. 24, 1951 

